Chapter 14

Rio and Jaxson manned the grill while Powers sat the patio table while the women brought bowls of sour cream and butter, along with a large bowl of salad and several bottles of salad dressing, a bottle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Just as the men were taking the steaks off of the grill, Charlotte walked out of the house carrying a platter of fresh bread. She sat it down in the center of the table, next to the platter of large steaks.

The eight of them sat around the table and enjoyed their food. By mutual agreement no one was talking about the earlier part of the day and the information discovered on the SD card that Charlotte had downloaded and smuggled out of the Tampa office of one of the largest black market dealers in the world.

Nathan wiped his mouth and said, "Charlotte, you have spoiled us all these last day or two, and I know that I shouldn't ask, but I have to." Everyone stopped and turned to look at the two of them. They all felt the tension at the table, waiting on what Nathan was going to say. "But, did you...make dessert?"

Everyone laughed at the hopeful expression an his face. He reminded them of a child asking for his favorite food.

"Yes, Mr. Powers, I made dessert. Since it's warm ether, I thought something light and fruity would be good. So I made a fruit salad with berries, watermelon and tossed it in whip cream." She smiled and said, getting up and walking into the house and returning a short time later with a large bowl filled with her dessert.

After their meal, everyone pitched in to help clean. After the clean-up, everyone came back outside to enjoy the weather. "Wow. Would you just look at that night sky."

Misty had stepped out into the back yard and was looking up at the night sky. "I've never seen it so clearly."

"Yeah, out here the only light that interferes with the view of that beautiful view." Rio reached inside the screen door and turned out the porch light. "Now, wait a few seconds and let your eyes adjust to the darkness."

Everyone of them looked up in the night sky. It was a beautiful and inky with pinpoints of light as far as the eye could see. The appropriate ohs and ahs were said and a few of them even stood and looked at the night sky a little longer than the others.

Amber looked at Rio and said, "I can see why you love it here?" Looking out over the land and into the night, she turned bac to him and said, "Will we live here?"

Rio hadn't thought beyond last night to the future. This was a clear indication that she wanted a future with him. He felt his brother walk up behind him and place his hand on Rio's shoulder. "Looks like that's a yes, Amber. If you like, when all of this is over, we can build you guys your own house. There is over five hundred acres. I'm sure we can find the perfect spot for you two."

Rio just stood in silence for a minute or two. Then, walking over to where his mate and wrapped her up in his arms. He felt her stiffen for a bit before noticeably making herself relax. When she did, she laid her head on his chest and sighed.

"That sounds really nice. Wonderful, in fact." She whispered.

"On that note, it's getting late. Misty, you going to come back to my place tonight?" Looking at her brother, she nodded. She was letting him know that she was available to talk.

"Time for me to head out, too. Jaxson, Charlotte. Goodnight all." Henry nodded to the other two men and went back inside the house to retrieve his medical bag with his instruments and headed for his truck. Just as he was about to open the front door, Jaxson stopped him and said, "Family first, Henry. Always. Never forget that. And always be thankful for second chances."

Henry, still standing with his hand on the door, nodding, not saying a word, and left.

"So you think he will take your advice to heart, bro?" Rio said from the shadows.

"I don't know, maybe. I do know that familial issues issues are not something that we need to draw our attention away from the situation at hand." He closed the front door and locked up. Turning back to his brother, he said, "Hopefully, by this time tomorrow, we will have our house back and Powers will be on his way to a federal judge to get warrants. Then by the time a week is up, our lives will be our own and we can claim our mates and start building you and Amber your new home."

"Dreams, little brother, dreams. They give us something to look forward to." Rio turned and headed to his and Amber's room.

"I've got plenty of my own, too. A bunch of cubs, a mate, taking over the clan as Alpha. Mom and dad would be so happy for you and your mate, too." Jaxson said.

Jaxson locked up the house and joined Charlotte in their room. She was just coming out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her. Without saying a word, he walked over to his dresser and pulled out a shirt and put it over her head.

Understanding that he was upset, Charlotte let her mate dress her in his clothes to cover her in his scent. It was the one thing he could control in this uncontrollable situation. "Ah Jax. I'm sorry that I brought all of this mess to you and your door."

Wrapping her up in his arms, he said, "I'm glad you did. I was a lot like Rio in my thinking. I was positive that I didn't have a mate. That's what scared me. Even though I wasn't sure what scared me more. The thought of finding you, or the thought of never finding you. Now that I have, I am so glad. Because you, Charlotte, have brought hope and peace back into my life. Something that I was seriously lacking after that final mission two years ago."

"Jaxson, I need to tell you something. You how we were talking at dinner tonight, how there are not a lot of females like me out in the world?" She waited for him to nod. "I...I am old fashioned. I was waiting until I got married for ...to give my husband....." Looking up at him, she flushed deeply, and said, "Help me out here. Please."

"You're a virgin." He said, grinning.

Charlotte nodded.

"I kind of figured that one out for myself when you started talking about wanting to be a homemaker and all of that stuff. Let me tell, I was so thankful. It means a lot to a guy that the woman he plans on spending the rest of his life with has saved herself for him." He picked her up and carried her to bed.

In the back bedroom, Nathan Powers was thinking over the last couple of days. This house, this town. These people. Yes people. They ay be shifters, but they were still people. Rio has been like a son to him and now that pseudo-family was expanding. This community was special. He knew that there were many more that he had yet to meet. But, for the time being, he would settle for knowing those that have been in this house. He trusted Rio and that man had brought him some incredible friends.

Tomorrow would be the big day, and he would gather all of the evidence to take to a federal judge for warrants and at the end of this, he would retire to someplace inconspicuous. Maybe even here.

Amber and Rio were just getting to bed. Suddenly, Amber started crying. Rio gathered her into his arms. "What's the matter? Why are you crying?"

"I don't deserve you. I'm so dirty. So stained and used. Yet, yu act like I am the most precious thing in the world."

"Amber, you are the most precious thing in the world to me. You may not "pure" as the world would see. But, I see you as pure because what happened to you was not your choosing. If fact, you choice was taken from you. I promise you here and now that I will never take that from you. Even if it is for your own safety. You will always have a choice."

Amber rubbed the side of his face and whispered a quiet "Thank you."

"Let's get some sleep. Tomorrow is going to be tough." Rio pulled her against him and they lay there as sleep overtook them.

An hour away, in the town, at the sheriff's house, Misty rolled onto her back, breathing hard.

"So, Henry is your brother, huh?"

"Yeah. We are actually only about nineteen months apart. I'm the oldest of the two of us."

"What happened? The tension between you two tonight was palpable."

"Something stupid. Henry was always a jokester. So, he pulled some kind of prank. I never knew what kind. But, it cost a kid his life. He was just 17. The cops and the courts said that Henry wasn't at fault, but he always felt like if he had caused that kid's death. Once he was cleared, he took off and joined the military." Misty shuddered when she remembered that letter that they received after Henry had been missing for two weeks. "He was engaged when he left. They grew up together and had always been in love. I have never seen such a genuine and pure love like I saw between Randi and Henry. That is, until I came here and met Charlotte. Her...mate, Jaxson. That's the kind of love that my brother displayed for her."

"Do you think he still loves her?"

"Oh no doubt. That kind of love doesn't fade away just because you are no longer around each other. No, he still loves her. I'm positive."

"Will you stay?"

"Stay"

"Yeah. Tomorrow when Powers leaves. Will you stay? Here? With me? I can't tell you that I love you. But, what I feel for you isn't mild either. I would like you to stay and let's explain it together."

Bill made the argument to Misty for her to stay. After his mate had been killed in a car accident, he didn't think that he would ever want another woman. But this woman, she had called to him without her even knowing. The instant pull towards her was almost like a mate pull. But, he had never heard of bears having a second chance mate.

"Can I give you my decision in the morning?"

"Yes You can. I will wait."

They lay down to sleep. Misty however, didn't sleep much that night. She knew that she enjoyed Bill's company. More than that, she felt drawn to him, and the thought of leaving him tomorrow caused her heart to ache in ways that it never had before.

It was early into the morning when Misty finally felt exhaustion take her. She felt like she had only been asleep for a few minutes when Bill was waking her up with a cup of his wonderful coffee.

"Oh god! that's fabulous. What is your secret?" She said as she drank her first grateful sip.

"French press. My first mate....."Bill's eyes widen realizing what he had just said.

Misty it seemed, was not unaware of what that meant as well.

"Did you... did you just claim me as your mate?" She whispered.

"Yes, I did. My bear spoke. That wasn't me. But, I'm not upset about it. I wanted you as my mate. Our connection was palpable from the beginning. But, I have never heard of bears having a second chance mate."

"I'll take it. As long as you want me, I'll be here for you."

Bill didn't wait for her to finish. He grabbed her and pulled her to him, kissing her.

For the first time in a long while, Bill felt his bear perk up and make a satisfied sound in the back of his head.

Laughing, he pulled away from her.

"Would you like to share what's so funny." Misty wasn't sure how to feel about his laugh.

"My bear just made himself known. He was letting me know how satisfied he is that I have finally realized that you are our mate."

"Oh, well, okay. " Misty wasn't sure how to respond.

"It's okay, I get it. I have a lot of thing to explain to you." I even need to introduce you to my bear. He is really insistent about meeting you."

"Well, let's get this day going so you can make good on that." Misty smiled and picked up her coffee and took another sip, moaning again.

"You could seriously bribe me to move in with you, just with your coffee alone." She said with her eyes closed, savoring the flavor.

Bill laughed, realizing she was only half joking.

Leaving her to get dressed, Bill went downstairs to the kitchen and begun to get toast going, along with more coffee for his mate.

His mate. He turned it over in his mind and smiled. How could he not have seen it right away?

His bear had known and had made that knowledge known this morning.

At Jaxson's home, they two couples and Nathan were just waking up. Charlotte went to the kitchen to start coffee.

Rio and Amber came into the kitchen together, holding hands. Behind them was Nathan. Who, immediately noticed that the couple were getting very close. The physical closeness alone spoke of a lot of things. Nathan decided that it was time to have a "talk" to Rio. He needed to understand how Amber struggled with any kind of physical connection to anyone of the opposite sex.

He was about to speak up when Charlotte set out cups for every one and put a couple of pieces of toast in the toaster. Turning to the two men and Amber, she said, "Guys, I'm sorry, I'm not cooking today. I think I have over done it the last couple of days and I am not just exhausted, but sore." Rio immediately let Amber's hand go and came to stand next to her, looking her over before grabbing her shoulders to make her look him in the eye.

"Charlotte, are you okay. Do I need to call Henry to come and check you out?"

Jaxson walked into the kitchen to see his brother holding his mate by the shoulders looking at her with a great deal of concern. Alarm shot through him. Something was wrong with her!

"I'm fine, Rio. Really. I'm just tired. I really think that I have tried to do too much over the last two days. I just want to rest." Turning her head, she saw Jaxson standing in the doorway. He was pale with concern for her.

"I'm fine, Jaxson. I promise. I just overdid it. Please don't be upset." Gently shrugging off Rio's hands on her shoulders and walked over to her mate.

Looking up at him, she smile. As she watched, his nostrils flared as he smelled her to verify what she was saying.